Page 115 of The Cottage in the Highlands

So, alongside the glossy feature on Avanti cosmetics, with its enchanting, ghostly statues and the wild beauty of the gardens of Merry Wood, there was also this:

Goddess magazine, Christmas 2022 edition

Affairs Of The Art

Read our exclusive interview with Flynn Talbot, the debonair artist who reveals that he is elusive street artist Chandler who, for almost fifty years, has brought his brand of rebellious art to the masses, but that he suffered for years in an abusive marriage…

By Leonie Baxter and Kerry Wicks

Flynn Talbot has decided it’s time to change things about his life; things that have made him unhappy and regretful for a long time. He has also decided, at the age of seventy-nine, to reveal that he is Chandler, the mysterious and elusive street artist who, for the best part of fifty years, has been painting his dramatic and thought-provoking work on bus stops, brick walls, and derelict buildings.

Billed as “The Scottish Banksy”, Talbot has been making social commentary an artform, using his platform to get people to stop and think. “Art is not exclusive to the rich and privileged,” he says. “At least, it shouldn’t be. It is there to be enjoyed by everyone and that’s why I decided to adopt my alter ego of Chandler and put it out there.”

Speaking from his gorgeous home, Merry Wood, with his partner, Lily Cruickshank, by his side, Talbot explains that it was the discovery of a letter that he wrote to his long-lost love in 1973 which was the catalyst for his decision to go public with not just his Chandler persona, but also with details of the abusive marriage which has haunted him for the past forty years.

“I would never admit it at the time,” confesses the still dashing Flynn Talbot, “but I was being physically and mentally abused by my then wife.”

The wife Talbot refers to is willowy former fashion model and fevered charity campaigner Astrid Talbot.

“She would go into these awful rages and I would blame myself. I thought I was behaving in such a way or saying something that would either bring on or fan the flames of her anger. I know now that isn’t true.”

Confused and embarrassed, Flynn Talbot put up with the abuse inflicted upon him by his now ex-wife. “She was offered an opportunity to work for a charity in Africa,” he explains. “I thought our marriage could still be saved, and she would turn a corner.” He adds ruefully, “I had my then eight-year-old son to think of too.”

Talbot says things improved in Africa for a time, before Astrid reverted back to her old ways. In the meantime, Flynn admits he fell in love with Lily Cruickshank, the flame-haired beauty who lived in a cottage just across the woods from him.

“But it was all a mess, thanks to our respective partners,” chimes in Lily, clutching Flynn’s hand. “My late husband discovered our feelings for one another and made sure Flynn never returned to Merry Wood or to me.”

Goddess approached Astrid Talbot for comment in Spain, where she now resides, but Ms Talbot declined to comment on these allegations…

The truth about Astrid physically abusing Flynn for the duration of their marriage drew a cacophony of cries from every corner of society, from domestic abuse support groups to celebrities and members of the public admitting that they too had experienced the same mental and physical torture at the hands of their partners.

The charities with which Astrid had been associated, from animal welfare groups to overseas fundraisers, seized the opportunity to distance themselves from her, citing disgust and dismay at her behaviour.

Following the publication of the interview, Astrid vanished off-grid. The backers of her proposed tapas bar also pulled the plug on their financial support. One by one, her so-called celebrity friends fell by the wayside too.

Flynn senior refused to raise the historic abuse allegations with the police, instead explaining to Flynn and me that the public shame and loss of her charity spotlight work would be her punishment.

Flynn senior assured us that he and Lily wanted to move on with their lives together and if he pursued Astrid through the courts, they would be unable to do that.

Flynn senior and Lily proceeded with selling her cottage to Mrs Oates and put Lily Grove on the market. Mrs Oates was delighted with Flynn senior’s offer of continuing to work as his housekeeper at Merry Wood. After all, an extra pair of hands would be welcome to assist Lily.

Merry Wood was to be adapted to cater for Lily’s heart condition, but no problem was ever insurmountable, maintained Flynn senior with his usual air of optimism.

Seth Gordon and Rick Askew were formally arrested and charged, pending a trial in the New Year, for their part in the Stardust embezzlement, attempted murder and deception.

Lulu Stark’s comedy tour was a great success and she found herself a new and trustworthy agent, who suggested they revamp the Stardust range and begin again from scratch with it.

Kerry finally admitted to all of the Goddess team that she was Athena’s niece. There were a few raised brows, but Kerry adopted the philosophy of Flynn senior and pushed on, working hard to prove she deserved her place there.

I think she’ll be ok.

The interview with Flynn senior/Chandler hit the national news headlines, sent the circulation figures for Goddess into the stratosphere and earnt me a promotion to the title of features editor.

I also heard that the former newspaper offices of The Silver Ness News, had finally found a buyer.

Flynn senior wanted to spend more time on his exhibition work and encourage the talent of young artists, now that it was public knowledge he was Chandler, so he bought our former newspaper office, transforming it into a cosy little art gallery overlooking the sandy smiling Silver Ness beach.

I and the public alike assumed that as Chandler had now been unveiled, that would mean the end of sudden eruptions of art pieces appearing on the streets.